Trending:Iran protestsMinneapolis Ice shootingGreenlandUS-Venezuela tensionsBeckham family fuedBangladesh T20 World Cup rowUS to urge G7 and partners to cut reliance on China for critical mineralsFP News Desk • January 11, 2026, 17:18:37 ISTWhatsapp Facebook TwitterChina dominates the critical minerals supply chain, refining between 47% and 87% of copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency. These minerals are used in defence technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy components, batteries and refining processes. AdvertisementSubscribe Join Us+ Follow us On GoogleChoose Firstpost on GoogleRepresentational ImageUS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent plans to press G7 countries and key partner nations to accelerate efforts to cut their dependence on China for critical minerals when he hosts senior finance officials on Monday, according to a senior US government source. The talks will begin with a dinner on Sunday evening and bring together finance or cabinet ministers from the G7 economies, alongside representatives from the European Union, Australia, India, South Korea and Mexico. The official told Reuters that the participating countries together represent roughly 60 per cent of global demand for critical minerals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADSpeed will be a central focus of the meeting, the official said, describing the challenge as complex and involving multiple countries and policy approaches.
